"Which case is this?" Sebastian questioned as he pushed himself up in bed while supporting himself with an arm, gently patting Violet to soothe her and tell him.
"It wasn't in the news… Sam tried very hard to protect her, but he ended up being led away while managing a big event for her. When he came to know it was a trap, it was too late. She was already drugged and…" Violet looked away while blinking as he gently rubbed her back.
"That would not happen to me… I promise." He met her gaze.
"I… I'm just afraid you'll burn out and break down… I… It wasn't easy to convince myself to leave you either, given the attachment. I cannot help it sometimes. We need to be apart, and when we do, you must be strong to fight them." Violet sobbed a little, and it broke his heart to see her that way.
"I will. I promise. I wouldn't break down like this again. Cause I know even if they said you would leave, we will always be together in the end. Unless you tell me you don't want to…" He concluded.
"No… I want to, but…" He hugged her and gently tapped her back.
"I know. I'm sorry. This was what I meant by not hurting you any further. So, we need to be in sync with our understanding from now on." He reminded her as she nodded.
"I will be back right after exams on Saturday. I will be there with you during filming on Monday." She quickly updated him as he smiled and kissed her.
"I will sort out my divorce with Janice as soon as filming is over." He promised her. She nodded and snuggled further with him, not wanting to leave again in a few hours while he toyed with an idea in mind.
"Pack me with you…" He half meant it.
"What do you mean?" She tried to clarify.
"Well, they caused it. I'm supposed to be sick… So, I can actually fly with you to Phut Bi and stay with my sister and brother-in-law!" He declared as she tried to stop him, to no avail.
He sneakily pulled her back into his arms and held her tightly before whispering. "This is not a negotiation. It's confirmed." She playfully snarled at him before smiling and letting him do whatever he wanted.
"Is it fine if you accompany me to sleep tonight? I couldn't sleep with Sam snoring?" She laughed with him as he fed her the snack bar he had brought in for her.
The next morning, he woke first to speak with Sam. He let Violet sleep in for a bit, as it was still early for their flight at noon.
"Hmm… You're good to talk now?" Sebastian scratched his head while watching Sam and Jade working together, preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
"Oh hey… Hi, Sebastian." Jade greeted him as Sam put a finger up to him. "One second…" Sam hastily replied, trying to save his sizzling bacon from being overcooked.
"Hello, Jade. Congratulations on the win." Sebastian said politely.
"Oh, thank you. Nice to finally meet you. Come get seated. Breakfast should be ready soon. I will go wake the little princess…" Jade said, wanting to leave the men alone to talk while Sam was now busy finishing up the toast.
"Ah, it's fine… Let her sleep in for a bit…" Sebastian said awkwardly, to which Sam paused and turned to give him a questioning look.
Jade smiled, knowing not to pester further on the matter. Instead, she nudged Sam over to talk to him, Sebastian, as she took over with the toasts.
"Yes, what is it?" Sam said while wiping his hands on the hand towel.
"Since I am supposed to be on medical leave, I'm heading to Phut Bi," Sebastian announced, which made Jade grin while setting the table, but Sam squinted at Sebastian. It made Sebastian nervous, knowing Sam would disapprove and give him a whole lengthy lecture.
"Make sure you disguise yourself well. Ensure she passes her exams." Sam said calmly, to Sebastian's surprise. Caught by it, Sebastian managed to regain his composure and nodded before joining the couple at the dining table.
"Thanks, bro." Sebastian tested to see if Sam would change his mind, but Sam remained nonchalant. So, Sebastian decided to change the topic.
"By the way, the quality of reporters nowadays is very insulting… I wasn't actually succumbing to the intoxication, which I think you have noticed in the medical report…" Sebastian explained as Sam nodded.
"I was very pissed with Fang Li and the reporters. Their questions were as though they had not watched that episode before the interview. It's as if they deliberately want me to admit I didn't cook myself." Sebastian vented, to which Sam nodded again before finally meeting Sebastian's gaze this time.
"That's why we were talking about the camp to continue this path. You could showcase the cooking part during the camp. That would be all, depending on your skills by then, bro." Sam reminded him. Sebastian was now convinced Sam was really fine with him dating Violet, and he was no longer trying to ensure Sam was fine with him heading to Phut Bi with Violet anymore.
"This camping is not what it looks like. It's your chance to redirect the impression from the usual mystery image. You're going to portray a… Your true self." Sam concluded as Sebastian pondered and nodded, as it made sense. He could tell where Sam's marketing was going for him in Lucky Clover.
"By the way, Jade will join as my assistant to oversee Lucky Clover when I need to cover for Vi… Should be fine with you?" Sam asked as Sebastian nodded.
"Oh, sure, no problem! Welcome on board, Jade!" Sebastian cheered as Jade nodded in acknowledgement with a polite smile.
"Thanks. I hope I don't cause more problems." Jade said as she nervously chuckled.
"No worries, just enjoy yourself. Alright, I will get Vi awake and prepare to leave." Sebastian concluded as Sam nodded.
"Don't forget your disguise…" Sam reminded again as Sebastian put a thumb up, only for Jade to come by him.
"Don't worry about them… She's an adult." Jade reminded Sam as he sighed inwardly before sitting at the table for breakfast. He did not want to worry about Violet, but it was the nature of their relationship. He could only hope the best for her this time.
It did not take much effort for Sebastian to put on his disguise with multiple frames of glasses to choose from and style himself to look like a rich, wise CEO with neatly combed hair, but he covered it with a cap and a mask, and threw in a hoodie. He walked past the reporters without any disturbance at all in the airport. For once, he had a great laugh when the couple sat in their business class seats, which he upgraded for Violet.
He instantly brought her back to the place they first met, Carrisa's place in Kung Tap. While heading there from Phut Bi, she started to think about her notes for exams.
"Why is this place known as Kung Tap? I felt like, with Phut Bi nearby, the entire town should be called Phut Bi." Violet had been asking relevant questions related to her exams along the way.
"Because Phut Bi was its old name too. We who were born and grew up here once had gotten used to calling it Phut Bi… Kung Tap came later to differentiate better where Carissa is as a region on its own. That's why it's still not as famous as Phut Bi. People only come to Hat Yui for Phut Bi, but very little is known about Kung Tap. I'm very surprised you discovered it; otherwise we would never have met." Sebastian casually said while holding her closer by her waist.
"What does it mean?" Violet asked, leaning closer to his face, admiring his charming look with shades.
"Phut Bi means the land of peace. Kung Tap is similar in meaning to "the peace be with you." Sebastian explained as Violet took down notes on her mobile.
"So, assuming the language is Uttbi." She asked as he nodded. "Do you speak Uttbi?" She asked excitedly.
"Tatul waya wuda…" He said, to which she chuckled, blinking, waiting for an explanation.
"It means I do…" He said as she smiled and jotted it down in her notes.
"Teach me… Teach me!" She excitedly jumped by his side as he stole a kiss from her before locking arms and continuing walking towards his sister's place.
"What does Phor Tat mean?" She asked as he smiled.
"It is named after my guardian deity," Sebastian explained.
"Oh, yes! I learnt about the history of how this island was flooded, and the level of the water was so high that the community began to pray to the deities to save them. At first I thought Phut Bi or Kung Tap was the name of the deities. But the peace definition suited it better." Violet explained while Sebastian smiled proudly.
"Looks like someone is very well prepared for the exam! Kudos, Vi!" Sebastian praised as Violet giggled.
"The deities are Phor Tat, the protection deity, Pe Pak, the peace and war deity… there's a last one… the fertility deity." Sebastian teased as Violet frowned.
"Are you sure? I don't believe this…" She squinted at him.
"It's real! It's the Kiadak deity! The one where everyone prays for child protection, not just to get pregnant, alright?" Sebastian retaliated, and she knew it was true, cause she had learnt the deity's name before, but only for child protection and safety.
She had not related that part before to fertility, which made sense too. Before she could go further on the other history and attractions, she felt like they were being followed cause she could hear other footsteps hastily rustling behind them.
"Oh, and the beach we first kissed…" She covered his mouth to stop him from talking further, with an alarmed look. He instantly knew they were in danger, but he remained calm.
"Shh… We are being followed…" She whispered to him. He wanted to turn around, only for her to drag him to walk faster to Carissa's place in the distance.